POLICE BOARD TO MEET ON THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016

TORONTO: The next scheduled meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board will take place on Thursday March 17, 2016 at 1:00 PM in the Auditorium, 40 College Street. Copies of the agenda are available on the Board’s website at www.tpsb.ca, from the Board office and limited copies will be available at the meeting. You may view the Board meeting via LiveStream by clicking on this link.

REPORT ON THE POLICING AND RIGHTS EDUCATION VIDEO PROJECT
The Board will consider a report from the Chair regarding the final report from the Policing and Rights Education Video Project, entitled “Towards a New Chapter in our History: How the New Ontario Regulation Provides an Opportunity to Renew Police-Community Relations.” The report is based on a series of community consultations and provides feedback and recommendations for how police services, boards, community groups and activists can move forward in 2016 to strengthen police-community relations. The recommendations contained in the report cover a variety of areas, including public education, policy requirements, training and communication.

ANNUAL REPORT ON USE OF CONDUCTED ENERGY WEAPONS
The Board will consider a report from the Chief containing the 2015 Annual Report on the Use of Conducted Energy Weapons (CEWs). The report includes detailed information in a range of categories, including incidents of CEW use, subject’s behaviour/threat level, CEW effectiveness, injuries or deaths resulting from CEW use, civil actions and training. The report notes that in 2015, CEWs were used 303 times during 265 incidents involving as many as 375 subjects. In 2015, there were seven minor injuries directly related to CEW use, and no deaths. The report also notes that in 2015, Corporate Risk Management began tracking and reporting on the effectiveness of CEW use on emotionally disturbed persons. The report also includes a five-year historical data comparison which indicates relatively stable use of CEWs.

ANNUAL REPORT – FILING OF TORONTO POLICE SERVICE PROCEDURES
The Board will consider a report from the Chief regarding the annual report regarding the filing of Toronto Police Service procedures. It includes a complete index of Service procedures that identifies which have been developed as a result of Board policy.

ANNUAL REPORT - HATE/BIAS CRIME STATISTICAL REPORT
The Board will consider a report from the Chief on the 2015 Hate/Bias Crime Statistical Report. As the report notes, the Toronto Police Service Intelligence Services - Hate Crime Unit has collected statistics and has been responsible for ensuring full and thorough investigation of hate/bias crime offences since 1993. The report states that the year 2015 was characterized by strengthened relationships with community partners, education and a commitment to encouraging greater public reporting of hate crimes. As detailed in the report, in 2015, there was an 8.2% decrease in the number of total hate/bias crime occurrences reported to the Toronto Police Service compared to the previous year, which could be attributed to a variety of factors. The most prevalent hate/bias occurrences were for the offences of mischief to property, assault and criminal harassment. As the report also notes, the three most targeted groups since 2006 have been the Jewish community, the Black community and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community.